Kamala Harris off to strong fundraising start

California Senator Kamala Harris announced last week that her presidential campaign raised $12 million for the first quarter of 2019.

Presidential candidates are actually not required to file their quarterly fundraising reports with the Federal Election Committee until April 15. The FEC press office told the California Globe on Monday that Harris has not yet filed hers.

But the numbers she released are very solid, even as some other top tier presidential candidates are boasting bigger draws.

Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke announced last week that he had raised $9.4 million dollars in just 18 days since entering the presidential race. By way of contrast, Harris launched her bid in late January.

In a Sunday email to supporters,  New Jersey Senator Cory Booker announced he has raised $5 million since declaring his presidential intentions on February 1.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders hauled in $18 million in just six weeks of campaigning, his staffers announced the day after Harris released her figures.

Providing a contrast to Sanders and Trump

Sonoma State University political science professor David McCuan told CaliforniaGlobe.com that it shouldn’t surprise anybody that Sanders got bigger donations than Harris since he is better known. Despite the differential, McCuan says Harris is the stronger candidate.

“The 2020 Democratic dynamic is different and voters will look for a face that is distinct from Bernie—despite his great numbers in dollars and people—and for a face that can win with distinction from POTUS,” he emailed. “Right now, that person is Sen. Harris.”

“Her numbers are strong,” McCuan continued. “They do not have to be off the charts.”

Harris’s campaign said she got a total of 218,000 contributions, with 98% of them under $100.

The average was $55.

According to her campaign, about 12,000 of the 218,000 donations were for the maximum $2800 allowed under federal law.